Allegations of abuse by NZ Police
	peterellis Home / police allegations / Rickards, Shipton, Schollum vs Jane Doe Page 5 - Further Reaction to Not Guilty Verdict
	One News March 3 2007 Clark knew Rickards faced charges Prime Minister Helen Clark has revealed she knew of the charges facing Clint Rickards before his appointment as Assistant Police Commissioner. On Thursday, Rickards and former police colleagues Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton were acquitted of kidnapping and committing indecent assault on a 16-year-old girl in Rotorua in the 1980s.  After the verdict was delivered suppression orders were lifted in the case and it was revealed Schollum and Shipton were serving jail sentences for the rape of a woman in Mt Maunganui in the late 1980s. Clark told reporters in Auckland she was aware of the historical charges against Rickards, and says he was not her preferred candidate for the job. Police National Headquarters says Rickards will not be fully reinstated until employment issues are dealt with but Rickards says will fight to get his job back, through the courts if necessary. Meanwhile, the Police Association is warning officers their conduct is likely to be up for public scrutiny 24-7 in light of the Rickards, Shipton and Schollum court case. President of the Association Greg O'Connor says they have to take each accusation against police on their own merits. He says they have to be careful when accusations are made and they should always be tested. O'Connor says the public are right to have a high opinion of their police.